A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday confirmed that the United States (US) is actively seeking consular access for Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s financial crimes compliance chief, who has been detained in Abuja’s Kuje custodial centre since February 2024.
Gambaryan, a US citizen, was arrested alongside another Binance executive, Anjarwalla, over allegations linking Binance to money laundering and terrorism financing.
The US government is concerned about Gambaryan’s health, following his public outcry from his family and Binance CEO Richard Teng, who claim he is being denied adequate medical care and access to a wheelchair.
However, this has raised concerns and pushed the US in pressing for consular access to assess his condition.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja is set to rule on Gambaryan’s bail application on October 9.
Retired Nigerian diplomats, Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode and Ambassador Rasheed Akinkuolie, have supported the US request for consular access, emphasizing that while embassies should be involved in such cases to ensure fair treatment, they must not interfere with the legal processes of the host country.